Lisbon | Portugal : A Quick Guide to Planning Your Adventure

Lisbon … The lovely City of Tiles.

Don’t miss it

Get lost in Lisbon’s oldest neighborhood, Alfama, with its narrow, steep and winding cobbled streets. Admire all the beautifully-tiled houses. These colorful ceramic tiles [called azulejos in Portuguese] are all over the city’s buildings — typically arranged in impressive, artistic designs.

In Alfama, feel the emotion of fado, the traditional Portuguese music. It is often compared to opera, yet it feels so different. Fado is always performed in a group of three — one singer and two guitarists [a regular and Portuguese guitar]. Like opera, it’s very emotional, usually about love and heartbreak. We took a “fado experience” tour through Wild Walkers. It gives you the opportunity to meet and dine with other travelers. It felt like we were dining with old friends.

Pretty Cool

To see Lisbon from above, climb to Castelo de São Jorge for 360-degree views. Be sure to wear comfy shoes; it can be a steep walk to the top of this 11th-century fortress.

For spectacular sea-level views, head to Praça do Comércio [Commerce Square]. It is one of the largest [objective] and most beautiful [subjective] squares in Europe. It’s a fantastic place to grab a coffee, nata or ice cream and simply relax.

Must try food/drink

Our Wild Walkers tour guide said, “You can drink before noon in Portugal and no one will judge you!”

Order a shot of ginjinha from the counter at A Ginjinha. It’s a grab-and-go bar that serves tourists and locals ginjinha, a tart cherry gin. Then, pop into any bakery for one [or two or three or four] pastel de nata. These sweet, custard-filled desserts are a Portuguese stable.

For the ultimate wine experience, make a reservation at the BA Wine Bar in Bairro Alto. The service is exceptional. The staff encourages you to taste multiple wines before deciding on a glass [ ahem, bottle ]. They also craft the most magnificent spread of cheese, meats, olives and bread. Portuguese wine is out of this world. Do not miss this place!

Time Out Market is essentially an upscale food market. You can sample foods from popular Lisbon restaurants all in one building.

Here’s a hint

Castle-hop your way through the fairytale town of Sintra, which is about an hour train ride from Lisbon. You can buy your admission ticket when you arrive at the first castle. You’ll receive a small discount for visiting three castles — just buy the “multiple pass” at the first stop. [Stay tuned: A post specific to Sintra is coming!]

The metro system in Lisbon is phenomenal — very clean and easy to navigate.

Want a cool souvenir? Head to the Feira da Ladra flea market near the monastery in Alfama. While a lot of the vendors seem to be selling junk, several vendors sell fantastic artwork, jewelry, tiles, etc. You will certainly find a great souvenir to bring home!

For the original nata, take a bus or train to historic Belém. You could also walk along the waterfront to Belém. Pastéis de Belém is home to the original nata, and you can even watch them being made.

In Belém, there are plenty of museums and historic monuments, plus the popular Belém Tower. I know Belém Tower is high on the “must-do” travel lists, but you couldn’t have paid me to stand in line. Instead, I opted for more natas 🙂 Belém is BUSY. Prepare yourself.

Wish I had more time for

A ride on the famous Tram 28, which begins in the city center and meanders through Alfama. I also wish I had spent a day on the beach in Cascais, a popular beach town just outside the city.

Accommodation

I feel so lucky to have visited Lisbon twice. The first time, I stayed at Lisb’on Hostel in the Baixa-Chiado neighborhood. This hostel has the most magnificent outdoor terrace with one heck of a view. The panoramic view includes the Ponte 25 de Abril suspension bridge and the Christ the King monument across the water in Almada. The bridge rivals the Golden Gate in San Francisco, and the Christ the King monument was inspired by Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer.

During my second visit, I stayed in the Bairro Alto neighborhood at the New Lisbon Concept Hostel. It’s located near the Avenue of Lisbon, which is home to fancy shopping and upscale restaurants. I stayed in Lisbon for seven nights in total, which was the perfect amount of time to explore the city.

Next stop

Hopped on a train for a scenic ride to the Douro Valley, the picturesque wine region famous for its port wine.

Have you visited Lisbon? Share your experience and recommendations in the comments below.

Do you have other suggestions for Lisbon? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Ready to plan your adventure? Here are a few more posts to help you get started.